Editor,
How should we gauge overcrowding at Ridgefield schools? Some would say just look at the number of modular classrooms. State and local requirements mandate that schools plan for their capital needs, which Ridgefield does, through its capital facilities plan. How should we evaluate how many kids in one place is too much? And how are choices being made impacting the facilities available and how many kids are in permanent classrooms vs. modular classrooms?
In looking at the stated capacities in the 2022 capital facilities plan, Ridgefield has 565 kids more than the number of kids in the k-12 schools, per Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), less early learning and alternate learning because they are not in the brick-and-mortar schools.
Ridgefield has estimated 835 excess capacity in its facilities when adding in 1,400 spaces from modular classrooms (56 modular classrooms at 25 kids per classroom).
So, clearly, just looking at the number of modular classrooms doesn’t tell us much about how overcrowded schools may be.
Let’s take a few examples of what has happened at Ridgefield schools. In its May 16, 2016, board meeting, the school board voted to approve adding modular classrooms at Union Ridge and South Ridge to obtain state matching funds.
The point of this program was to reduce class sizes in kindergarten to third grade to 17 kids to align with a mandate from the state. Ridgefield received $1.2 million through the OSPI grant program to install 10 modular units of two classrooms each (The Columbian reported it as 11 modular units of two classrooms each).
Same number of kids now spread out across more classrooms. Does the appearance of modular classrooms indicate classrooms are more or less crowded? How small should class sizes be? Who gets to decide the class size? Teachers? The state? How much money is available?
Now let’s look at View Ridge/Sunset Ridge. At its February 12, 2019, meeting, the board approved $375,686 to install a two-classroom modular unit. OSPI reports 540 kids at Sunset Ridge and 460 kids at View Ridge in the 2018-19 school year. That’s 1,000 kids vs. the stated capacity of 1,157 at the brand new school. The following year, OSPI reports 1,103 kids, still below the stated capacity of the school.
At the same time all of this was going on, the school district was planning and running a bond measure. What happened during this process that impacted capacity?
RSD chose to accept state funds to build the View Ridge/Sunset Ridge school. At the time the bond was run, $15.5 million in state matching funds were expected. Ultimately, according to OSPI, RSD received $18.8 million. By taking those funds, a choice was made not to use the school for k-12 purposes any longer. Given the cost of constructing new schools, it would have made sense not to take the funds and keep the capacity of 297 permanent spaces and four modular classrooms. The choice was made not to.
Further, original planning for the same school expected capacity to be 1,200 with the option to expand to 1,500. However, by swapping land with the City of Ridgefield as part of the process of constructing the Ridgefield Outdoor Recreation Complex, the new school was placed between wetlands. This placement precludes expansion of the school and limits the use of modular classrooms. Lost was permanent capacity of 297, unbuilt permanent capacity of 43 and the potential for expansion of 300. Plus the inability for modular classroom expansion.
Choices are being made that impact the size of classes and how much permanent capacity is available. Looking at how many modular units are in place doesn’t tell us how well actual capacity is being utilized. How should we view how many kids in a location is too much? What other choices are being made now that impact capacity and flexibility? Shouldn’t you understand those and how it impacts what you are paying for through bonds and levies?
Heidi Pozzo
Ridgefield
